Commission readies for electionsThe Pope County Election Commission discussed poll workers for the upcoming Senate primary election during a meeting Wednesday. The commission previously voted to open six locations throughout the county on Election Day, Jan. 13, 2015. On Wednesday, commissioners Portia Short, Carol Shoptaw and Catherine Leapheart, chair, discussed how many poll workers to have at each location. Six poll workers each, three Republicans and three Democrats, wil...

Art Walk showcases local worksThe Downtown Art Walk and Holiday Open House will be from 6-9 p.m. Friday. Attendees are encouraged to join the Russellville downtown merchants as they showcase the talents of area artists and musicians, along with their festive holiday storefronts. The community is invited to stroll the sidewalks of Russellville downtown while shopping for art, greeting old friends and making new ones, enjoying refreshments provided by the participating busin...

Ballpark improvements forge aheadDOVER — Improvements to JP Lovelady Park forge ahead after hitting a speed bump earlier this year. Initially, Dover resident Scott Van Horn approached the Dover City Council during its May 6 meeting to get approval for $300,000 worth of improvements to the park at no cost to the city. Van Horn secured the money through private donations, and the council showed unanimous support of the project. However, Mayor Pat Johnson told the council during...

New state police director namedLITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas State Police (ASP) will have a new leader in 2015. Gov.-elect Asa Hutchinson announced on Wednesday that Bill Bryant will replace Stan Witt as ASP director. "Bill’s extensive experience at all levels within the law enforcement community makes him the ideal person for this key law enforcement position," Hutchinson said in a news release. Bryant worked with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) for 30 years. During th...

Workshop highlights Marine CorpsOver the summer, Stacee Frazier, scholarship coordinator at Russellville High School (RHS), was chosen to participate in the Marine Corps Educator’s Workshop in San Diego, Calif. The five-day workshop allowed high school administrators, teachers, community leaders and youth group leaders the opportunity to see what it is like to be a Marine and recruit. The goal of the program is to give attendees a better understanding of what Marines goes th...

Three file for District 16 seatThree Pope County men filed to run for the State Senate District 16 seat being vacated by Michael Lamoureux. Gregory B. Standridge and Thomas Akin, both of Russellville, and Stan Berry of Dover filed for the seat by the 5 p.m. deadline on Monday. All three candidates are Republicans. No candidates from other parties filed for the seat before the deadline. District 16 encompasses Newton and Pope counties and parts of Boone, Carroll and Van Bure...

Simpson unseats HelmsCLARKSVILLE — On Jan. 1, 2015, Clarksville will have a new mayor for the first time in more than a decade after Mark Simpson unseated Clarksville Mayor Billy Helms during last week's runoff election. Simpson received a little more than 63 percent of the votes with 499 while Helms received nearly 37 percent with 288, according to final unofficial results released by the Johnson County Clerk. There were three under votes reported. Helms has been...

Horton humbled by election resultsMayor-elect Randy Horton was overcome with emotion and relief as he looked at the results from last week's runoff election. He said his thoughts ran the gamut throughout the day from thinking there were too many votes outstanding to have an idea which way the election would go to feeling like he could be in the lead. "As the day went on a lot of voters exiting the polls waved or gave a thumbs up or other positive gesture or stopped by with a w...

Dover chamber hosts 'Old Time Christmas'The Dover Area Chamber of Commerce, with assistance from the city of Dover and the Dover School District, will be sponsoring Tinsel Town Christmas this year at the Dover City Hall. The event will begin at 7 p.m. on Dec. 13. This year’s theme will be “Old Time Christmas.” There will be a Christmas tree contest open to all youth organizations — churches, schools, 4-H, Future Farmers of America and other youth organizations. Applications must be ...

Two locals appointed to boardsLITTLE ROCK — Gov.-elect Asa Hutchinson appointed two local residents to state boards in November. Last week, Hutchinson appointed Jason Patton of Russellville to the State Board of Registration for Professional Geologists. Patton will serve on the geologist board until Oct. 1, 2019. He will fill the position Stephen Boss is vacating. Patton has been an associate professor of geology at Arkansas Tech University since 2008. In 2009, he was name...

Sheriff's office budget likely to increaseThe Pope County Quorum Court Budget Committee voted to recommend the sheriff's office 2015 budget proposal with an $81,991 jump from 2014. The hike is a result of a $144,172 net increase in the sheriff's office budget offset by a $62,181 net decrease in the detention center's budget. Pope County Sheriff-elect Shane Jones said he will be reorganizing the sheriff's office and detention center positions, which will lower the number of supervisors...

Committee recommends county raisesThe Pope County Quorum Court Budget Committee voted to recommend an across-the-board 2 percent cost-of-living increase for all full-time county employees in 2015. The committee considered whether pay increases or one-time stipends would be appropriate based on the county's budget. The 2 percent raise would increase the proposed budget by $86,148 and the stipend would increase it by $71,000. "The bottom line is one of them is a recurring cost a...

City budget talks continueThe proposed 2015 budgets for community development/code enforcement, animal control and Information Technology indicate a combined increase of $64,896 while the proposals for the Russellville Regional Airport, the city attorney's office and the district court indicate a combined decrease of $13,652. Mayor Bill Eaton, Finance Director Jerry McKaughan and Alderman Mark Tripp met with representatives of city offices Tuesday to review the prelimi...

Pottsville rezones three parcelsPOTTSVILLE — The Pottsville City Council approved rezoning three parcels from agricultural to industrial during its regular meeting Monday. "We went ahead and approved three readings," Mayor Jerry Williams said after the meeting. "That way, they can start building." The rezoning was recommended by the Pottsville Planning and Zoning Commission. The council approved making Dec. 26, the Friday after Christmas, a paid holiday for city employees th...

County approves new hiresThe Pope County Quorum Court Personnel Committee approved filling two positions and increasing the salary of a third position. The committee had previously asked Pope County Circuit Clerk-elect Diane Willcutt if the position she is vacating when she takes office Jan. 1 could be handled by the state's Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE). Willcutt told the committee there were several drawbacks to this idea. "OCSE ... usually takes about ...

Commission approves large-scale developmentThe Russellville Planning Commission approved a large-scale development during its regular meeting Monday. The commission also approved to recommend the Russellville City Council approve two special-use permits. "They were pretty straight-forward, routine requests," City Planner David Harris said on Tuesday. The large-scale development is for an expansion at the Grace Manufacturing facility located at 614 State Highway 247 in Russellville. Arc...

Atkins delays Alliance fundingATKINS — Mayor Jerry Don Barrett asked, and the Atkins City Council agreed, that the city wait to approve its annual $5,000 payment to the Arkansas Valley Alliance for Economic Development (AVAED) until an outside audit is completed. The mayor said he has received nearly a dozen calls from concerned residents who have followed stories about the agency in the newspaper. The payment comes out of city miscellaneous funds annually. Also during las...

11 vie to construct Central Fire StationThe Russellville Fire Department (RFD) is on track for the construction of a Central Fire Station to begin next year. "There is a need for a central fire station," RFD Chief John Cochran said. "The voters approved it. Now, we're just ready to get it started." Eleven architectural companies had submitted responses to the city's Request for Qualifications (RFQ) by 4 p.m. on Nov. 14, the deadline to submit. Now the Central Fire Station RFQ Evalua...